lasses were turned towards
them, and they were pronounced to be Esquimaux.

As it was important to establish friendly relations with these people,
the two commanders, attended by a few men, proceeded towards them,
walking in file behind each other, that they might cause no alarm. As
the natives approached, they formed themselves into a line of
twenty-one; then they advanced slowly, until, making a full stop, they
saluted the English by the usual movement of beating their breasts.
They were well clothed in rich deer-skins. On coming to the ships they
immediately began to strip; and the females, finding that they could
obtain knives, nails, and needles for their dresses, pulled them off,
when it was discovered that they had others of a similar character
beneath the outer ones.

A visit to their village, at their invitation, was paid; but at first no
one could discover their habitations. They, however, led the way to a
hill in the snow, through which they crept, on hands and knees, along a
winding passage of considerable length, until they reached a little hall
with a dome-shaped roof, the doors of which opened into three
apartments, each occupied by a separate family. This curious structure
was tenanted by sixty-four men, women, and children. It was formed
entirely of slabs of snow, about two feet long and half a foot thick.
On the outside a series of cupolas rose about seven feet above the
ground, and were sixteen feet in diameter. A plate of ice in the roof
served as a window.

When first seen the village appeared like a cluster of hillocks among
the snow; but successive falls filled up the intervening spaces, and
converted it into one smooth surface, so that the boys and dogs were
seen sporting over the roof. In each room, suspended from the roof, a
lamp was burning, with a long wick formed from a species of moss, the
oil being the produce of the seal or walrus. This lamp served at once
for light, heat, and cooking.

A few hours had been sufficient to put up the village. The natives were
as desirous of pleasing as they were ready to be pleased, and a
favourable impression was thus made at the first interview, which was
not diminished during a constant intercourse of between three and four
months. They were strictly honest, and frequently returned articles
which had been dropped by accident.

During a visit to the _Hecla_, the fiddler having struck up a tune,
these merry people danced with the seamen for